Toy airplane and trackway

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION FEATURES A TRACKWAY COMPRISED OF RUNWAY AND TURN-AROUND SECTIONS WHEREIN THE AIRPLANE IS PROPELLED BY ROTATING LANDING GEAR WHEELS, A FLYING AREA IN WHICH ROTATING PINION WHEELS PROJECTING FROM THE WINGS OF THE PLANE MESH WITH AND ADVANCE ALONG A CONTINUOUS RACK AND AN AEROBATICS AREA IN WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE PLANE ALONG THE CONTINUOUS RACK STATIONARY PINION WHEELS MESH WITH AND ADVANCE ALONG AN ABBREVIATED RACK CAUSING THE PLANE TO SOMERSAULT.

Oct. 19,1971

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ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,613,306 TOY AIRPLANE AND TRACKWAYToshikatsu Aria, Tokyo, Japan, assignor to Tomy Kogyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo,Japan Filed June 4, 1970, Ser. No. 43,496 Int. Cl. A6311 19/24 US. Cl.46216 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention features atrackway comprised of runway and turn-around sections wherein the airlane is propelled by rotating landing gear wheels, a flying area inwhich rotating pinion wheels projecting from the wings of the plane meshwith and advance along a continuous rack and an aerobatics area in whichsimultaneously with the advancement of the plane along the continuousrack stationary pinion wheels mesh with and advance along an abbreviatedrack causing the plane to somersault.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a toyairplane and trackway wherein taxiing, flying and loop-to-loopaerobatics are assimilated to the enjoyment of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Within the airplane a battery operated motoroperates the non-functional airplane propeller, landing gear wheels forpropelling the plane while taxiing and pinion wheels which mesh with acontinuous rack to lift and carry the plane through a pre-determinedflight pattern, somersaulting occuring in the aerobatics area asadditional, stationary pinion wheels mesh with an additional,abbreviated rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of thetrackway illustrating the toy airplane moving along the flat runway justprior to engaging the centrally disposed elevated flight rails definingthe area wherein flying and aerobatics take place;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the trackway;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of one of the flight rails taken along line33 of FIG. 2 illustrating the lower continuous rack defining the path offlight of the plane and the upper abbreviated rack defining the areawherein the plane performs aerobatics;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the flight rails taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 2 illustrating the airplane at the peak of its rise along theflight rails and in particular the construction and arrangement of dualpinion Wheels formed as the terminal end of one wing and their matingrelationship with the continuous and abbreviated racks of the flightrails;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the turn-around sections found atthe ends of the runway sections of the trackway illustrating inparticular the construction and location of the swivel rails formed asan integral part thereof which cooperate with designated portions of theplane permitting same to turn around through 180 while taxiing along therunway;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating thejoining of adjacent runway and turn-around sections;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view illustrating thejoining of flight rails to one of two base sections for the purpose ofsupporting the flight rails in the desired spaced relationship;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 2 illustrating apush button assembly permitting the 3,613,306 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 toyplane to be stopped at designated positions along the runway;

FIG. 9 is aside elevation view illustrating the toy plane;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view in section of the toy planeillustrating in particular the mechanism for driving the propeller,pinion wheels and landing gear wheels of the plane;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the toy plane with the top of its casingremoved;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of one wing of the plane withthe top casing thereof removed illustrating the stationary pinion wheeland the movable pinion wheel mounted on and for rotation with a shaftcontinuously run by the plane motor;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating ascent of the toy plane to theaerobatics area as the rotating pinion wheels mesh with the continuousracks within the flight rails;

FIG. 14 is a schematic view illustrating the plane somersaulting withinthe aerobatics area as the rotating pinion wheels continue to move theplane along the continuous rack while simultaneously the stationarypinion wheel meshes with the abbreviated racks located at the top ofeach flight rail; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating descent of the toy plane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The airplane is designatedgenerally by reference numeral 10 and includes, as illustrated in FIGS.9-12, upper and lower casing segments 12 and 14 secured together inconventional manner. A battery operated motor assembly 16, not describedin detail herein because of its conventional construction, is suitablymounted with the plane 10. Motor assembly 16 includes manually operatedswitch 18 for turning the motor on and off. A casing 20 for supporting abattery for energizing the motor assembly 16 is also suitably mountedwithin the plane 10. In conventional manner, the motor assembly 16powers propeller 22 and, thru the medium of gears and wheels generallydesignated by reference numerals 24-28 but not described in detailherein, also powers pinion wheels 30 thru shaft 32 and further powerslanding gear wheels 34 thru gears 36. As seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, pinionwheel 38 is fixedly secured to one of the wings 40 of the plane whileshaft 32 powering pinion wheels 30 passes therethrough.

The trackway is designated generally by reference numeral 42 andincludes, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a central flying and aerobatics areacomprising flight rails 44 locked into spaced position with the use ofbase sections 46. As seen in FIG. 7, each end of each rail 44 isprovided with parallel ribs 48 which are configured to be insertedwithin a corresponding open housing 50 formed as an integral part of andat each end of each base section 46. Thus, flight rails 44 are snappedin place within base sections 46 in parallel relationship. On theinwardly facing surface of each rail 44, as seen in FIG. 3, are locateda first continuous rack 52 extending from one side of each rail 44 tothe other defining the flight path of plane 10 and an abbreviated rack54 located above rack 52 and within the uppermost limits of each rail 44defining the area within which the plane performs aerobatics, inparticular somersaults. As will be apparent, movement of the plane 10through the flying area defined by rails 44 is accomplished by therotating pinion wheels 30 meshing with and advancing along continuousracks 52 while somersaults are performed in the aerobatics area by thesimultaneous meshing and advancing of stationary pinion wheel 38 andabbreviated rack 54, as seen in FIG. 4, wherein the plane 10 rotatesabout an axis defined by 3 shaft 32. Supports 56 are formed as anintegral part of each rail 44 and positioned below rack 52 so as tostabilize flight by permitting the trailing edges of the Wings 40 tobear thereagainst during flight, as seen in FIGS. 13-15.

Disposed outwardly from each side of the aerobatics area are flat runwaysections 58, provided at one end with male flanges 60 and at the otherend with female flanges 62, so configured to lock in place withcorresponding male and female flanges 64 and 66 formed as an integralpart of base sections 46. Thus, runway sections 58 are snapped in placewithin base sections 46 and extend outwardly therefrom.

Disposed outwardly from runway sections 58 are turnaround sections 68provided with male and female flanges 70 and 72, respectively, soconfigured to lock in place with corresponding female and male flanges62 and 60, respectively, of runway sections 58. Thus, as seen in FIG. 6,turn-around sections 68 are snapped in place within runway sections 58and extend outwardly therefrom.

Extending through base sections 46, runway sections 58 and selectedportions of turn-around sections '68 are rails 74 within which the guidemembers 76 and 78 of the toy plane 10, as seen in FIG. 1, extend. Alsoincluded within and formed as a part of turn-around sections 68 areswivel rails 80 against which the guide members 82, positioned outwardlyfrom the landing gear wheels 34 of the toy plane 10, abut. In thismanner, airplane is permitted while taxiing to change direction through180 within each turn-around section 68. As will be apparent, duringmovement of plane 10 through the runway sections 58 and the turn-aroundsections 68 the rotating landing gear wheels 34 contact the surfaces ofthe sections and propel the plane therealong.

Within each runway section 58 is located a push button assembly 84, asseen in FIG. 8, comprising a pivoted lever 86 terminating at one end inflange 88 and at the other end thereof in button 90. As button 90 ispushed down, flange 88 moves upwardly through an opening 92 within rails74 obstructing movement of guide member 76 of the plane 10 halting themovement of the plane 10 along the rails 74.

As will be apparent, the present invention provides a variety ofamusement features for children. When switch 18 is turned on, the motorassembly 16 immediately powers propeller 22, pinion wheels 30 andlanding gear wheels 34. Throughout the runway sections 58 and theturn-around sections 68 the plane 10 is moved by the rotation of landinggear wheels 34 along the surface. As the plane enters the flying areadefined by rails 44, the rotating pinion wheels mesh with continuousracks 52. The plane 10 is then airborne, as seen in FIG. 13, and beginssomersaulting as stationary pinion wheel 38 meshes with the abbreviatedrack 54, as seen in FIG. 14. As the aerobatics are completed, the plane10 begins its descent, as seen in FIG. 15. Turn-around sections 68provide excitement as the plane 10 at high speed abruptly, but safely,turns around and heads back into the flight area. Within runway sections58 the plane 10 may be stopped by pushing button 90.

I claim:

1. An amusement device, comprising:

(a) a trackway, an elevated aerobatics area adjacent said trackwaycomprising upstanding side portions provided with first continuousracks, at least one of said side portions also being provided with asecond rack spaced above and inwardly of at least one portion of one ofsaid first racks; and

(b) a vehicle, means propelling said vehicle along said trackway, meansfurther propelling said vehicle within said aerobatics area comprisingfirst spaced apart pinion wheels mounted on shafts for rotation withrespect to said vehicle, said first pinion wheels meshing with saidfirst continuous racks of said upstanding side portions for propellingsaid vehicle along said first racks, at least one second pinion wheelfixedly mounted to said vehicle concentrically of one of said shafts ofsaid first pinion wheels and spaced inwardly thereof, said second pinionwheel engaging said second rack causing said vehicle to somersault aboutsaid shafts of said first pinion wheels and motor means within saidvehicle powering said shafts.

2. An amusement device as in claim 1, wherein said means propelling saidvehicle along said trackway includes a continuous rail formed withinsaid trackway terminating in the proximity of said aerobatics area andlocated at a position below said first continuous rack of saidaerobatics area, said vehicle including wheels mounted for rotation andengaging said trackway, means operatively connecting said motor meansand said wheels propelling said vehicle along said trackway, saidvehicle further including means guiding said vehicle along said rail ofsaid trackway.

3. An amusement device as in claim 1, said trackway being provided atone end thereof with a turn-around section including a portion whereinsaid rails diverge and terminate and a generally curvilinear swivel railspaced therefrom and located generally in line with said rail means,said vehicle further including second guide means for engaging theinside of said swivel rail as said first guide means leaves thediverging portion of said rail means to turn said vehicle aroundreturning said first guide means to the diverging portion of said railmeans permitting said vehicle to travel in the opposite direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1967 Ryan et al. 46243 M 2/1957Frank 46-2l6 X U.S. Clv X.R. 46-216

